A number of things triggered the pre-meetings activity. First, the dates for tendering contracts are earlier this season while the Winter Meetings are slightly later. More players were on the market further in advance of the Winter Meetings.

As for the Padres:

“We’re still in a lot of discussions,” said Byrnes, who knows many fans are not happy with the trade the Padres made last Tuesday to acquire left-handed hitting corner outfielder Seth Smith from Oakland for right-handed setup reliever Luke Gregerson.

Did the Padres acquire another fourth outfielder while weakening an already short-handed bullpen?

Byrnes sees Smith as being the left-handed bat the Padres — who were vulnerable against right-handed pitching even before losing Yonder Alonso and Everth Cabrera to injury — desperately needed.